The UConn Huskies superstar’s newest NIL deal with Gatorade puts her in 1-of-1 territory as an athlete endorser.
Paige Bueckers is used to making history by now.
The 2020 Gatorade National Player of the Year winner at Minnesota’s Hopkins High School went straight to UConn and won AP Player of the Year, Naismith Player of the Year, and the John Wooden Award in her first collegiate season. She became the first female player ever to win the Naismith as a frosh, joining Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson as the only first-years ever to do it in all of Division I ball.
Now, Bueckers is making history off the court by becoming the first college athlete to sign a Gatorade NIL endorsement deal, the company announced Monday.
As part of a multi-year partnership, the 20-year-old known as “Paige Buckets” will work with Gatorade to help lead the growth of women’s basketball. She joins Serena Williams, Sydney McLaughlin, and Elena Delle Donne among elite-level woman athletes with endorsement deals with the brand.
“It was a blessing to win Gatorade Player of the Year in high school, and now it’s truly surreal to be an official member of the Gatorade family,” Bueckers said. “I know this is just the beginning of our partnership and can’t wait to get to work with Gatorade to drive impact in the community and on the women’s game.”
Bueckers continues to grow an impressive portfolio, signing an NIL deal with StockX earlier this month.
“As a former Gatorade Player of the Year and one of the top college athletes playing today, Paige Bueckers is the perfect addition to the Gatorade Family,” said Jeff Kearney, Gatorade’s global head of sports marketing. “From her electrifying performances on the court to fueling change off of it, Paige exemplifies everything it means to be a Gatorade athlete, and partnering with her is a statement to the next generation of our continued commitment to women in sport.”
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